Weft end parting and holding devices



Feb. 28, 1961 Filed March 31, 1958 C. M. BARTLETT WEFT END PARTING AND HOLDING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .1? 11291 by Firm/vfirflzy Feb. 28, 1961 c. M. BARTLETT 2,973,017

WEFT END PARTING AND HOLDING DEVICES Filed March 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1y WN- nite 2,973,017 Patented Feb. 28, 1961 WEFT END PARTING AND HOLDING DEVICES Curry M. Bartlett, Newton, Mass, assignor to H. F. Livermore Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. N 725,187

11 Claims. (Cl. 139-263) This invention relates to the weft parters regularly employed in automatic weft replenishing looms to cut the old weft at the moment of replenishment. This is done to enable it to be withdrawn from the shuttle and to clear the shuttle eye for the admission of the new weft being inserted into the shuttle, and to dispose of the portion of the old weft extending from the selvage of the cloth to the shuttle.

This portion of the old weft end must be gripped and held to prevent its being carried or Wafted into the shed by the motion of the shuttle, lay, or pick-er, as well as to present it to the temple weft parter so that it may be trimmed off at the selvage when it reaches this device in the course of the advance of the cloth during the weaving being effected with the succeeding weft s upply.

Hence the weft parter of conventional type, employing scissor-type blades to cut the weft, is provided with an additional blade-like element, usually made of fiber, which is spring-pressed against the side of the movable scissor-blade so that the weft will be jammed and wedged between the moving blade and this element and thus held at the side of the cut nearer the cloth. The grip of this holding means is maintained until the weft parter again performs its cutting function at the next weft-re plenishing action, for proper working of the temple weft parter.

However, the scissor-action thus used in gripping and wedging the old weft end between the fiber holding blade and the side of the cutting blade frequently breaks fine weft counts during this shearing motion, even tho-ugh the adjacent edge of the steel moving blade is always dulled or rounded and the opposing edge of the holding blade usually similarly formed. Much trouble is experienced in this regard when fiberglass weft is being woven since the substance is so brittle that it cannot withstand the right-angle bending of the weft around the holding blade inherent in this type of grip. Elastic we fit will pull out because it is under tension. In each case, the weft end escapes to tangle with the working weft and enter the shed to make trouble and injure the quality of the fabric, as well as to require eventual removal by hand. The tension of the spring pressing the fixed, moving, and holding blades together requires to be nicely adjusted to the size, strength, and character of the weft being used, as the pressure needed to hold a coarse weft securely against escape must be eased for fine weft, to keep from cutting the latter at the gripping point. Further, wear of the fiber blade through repeated gripping of the weft grooves the blade so that it no longer holds securely, and the end slips away. Disassembly and replacement of the fiber blade is then required.

The object of the present invention is to provide new and improved holding and cutting means obviating the difiiculties and avoiding the drawbacks of the prior devices.

To these ends, the invention discards the scissor-type of wedging grip, and provides instead a pincers-type of clamping action between elements both of which move in the same plane and meet squarely in jaw fashion to grip and hold the weft end between them without intnoducing any right-angle or other angular bend in the weft end between the gripping point and the selvage, and thus cannot shear or break the weft. This type of grip enables it to hold yarns of all sizes, strengths, and character with equal facility and without injury thereto, and further without adjustment or wear of the jaws. The clamping action can never lag behind the cutting, action, as often occurs with consequent escape of the end in prior types, nor is' the entry space between the cutting blades narrowed by the advanced position of the fiber holding blade intended to be maintained in the prior type to effect gripping before cutting. Instead, the clamping elements are as wide or wider apart than the cutting blades as the weft enters, but one of the clamping elements outdistances the moving cutting blade to complete the grip well before cutting occurs. The two clamping jaws thereafter move with the cutting blade at the same speed as the latter, one jaw being pivoted on and carried by the moving cutting blade, and thus there is no tendency for the weft yarn to reeve through the clamping jaws when first engaged by the cutting blades and before the cut is completed, which in the case of the prior devices using stationary fiber holding blades caused the grooving of the fiber blade. The intensity of the gripping action increases as the cutting blade reaches and passes the cutting point.

The holding jaws may advantageously be made thicker, to give a wider and hence more secure gripping surface, which increase in thickness would be of no profit in the prior form where the holding is done solely between the opposed lateral surfaces of the holding blade and the moving blade. This construction makes it possible to form the holding jaws out of metal, plastic, or any other desired material, as well as the fiber previously used, and to apply rubber or other frictional surfacing to the jaws if desired to increase the sureness of their grip.

Other aims of the invention, and the manner of attainment thereof, are as will be made plain in the follo ing description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a left-hand side elevation of the improved weft holder and parter.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same, without the supporting bracket and the actuating arm.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the elements of the novel weft holder and parter.

Figs. 4 to 6 are left-hand side elevations showing the holding and cuttingblades in open, closed, and cutting relation, respectively, with the cover plate removed.

The novel device is illustrated in combination with the weft holder and parter o f Urquhart Patent No. 2,676,620, which as here comprises a carrier I mounted to slide back and forth on guides 7, 9, mounted by bracket 11 on the transferrer stud 17 of the weft-replenishing battery of an automatic loom. This carrier as usual stands normally forward out of range of the shuttle-box parts, being moved rearward into action by the actuator 81, when the spent bobbin in the shuttle is to be replaced, to insert the cutting and holding blades into the slots in the shuttle-box front wall and in the shuttle to seize and part the weft. When the carrier 1 is driven forward by engagement of a hunter screw (not shown) in lug 67 with the shuttle-box front wall, the cam path 63 formed by the hooked end 64 on guide 9 moves the movable blade of the patent between the fixed cutting blade and the fixed fiber holding blade thereof, to part and hold the tingblade12 is of more or less customary shape, but the movable blade 13 carries a toggle or gripping jaw 15 pivoted on it upon a pin 17 press-fitted into it and fitting freely within a hole 19 formed for its reception. Both blades are mounted on the shank of screw. 39 fixed in the carrier 1, which also has a pin 41fixedthereinto enter a notch 42 in the forward end of the'fix'ed blade 12 to hold this blade from movement, while the movable blade is provided with a slot 20 around this pin permitting this blade to pivot on screw 39 in usual manner.

The holding or clamping blade 21 overlies and bears against the side of moving blade 13, being mounted by means of its hole 23 upon the shank-of screw 39. But contrary to prior practice this blade is cut away at 25 to fit over pin 41 with capacity for'rocking' movement about screw 39. A spring 27, made of fiat stock bent up at one end is fitted into a keyhole shaped slot 2% running into the aperture 25, bearing against pin 41 to hold the lower edge of the recess 25 yieldingly in contact with pin 41 and thus determine the idle or waiting position of this blade.

A spur 29 is formed on the bottom edge of holding blade 21 to stand below the tapering right-hand end portion 31 of the gripping jaw 15, this portion fitting loosely within the recess 33 defined between spur 29 and the body of the holding blade 21.

The action of this device is as follows: When the carrier is driven forward by the impact of the lay against the hunter in lug 67 during the replenishing operation, with the blades in the relation shown in Fig. 4, the cam surface or path 63 on guide 9 through its action on a roll 59 on a pin 61 fixed in the forward end of movable blade 13, rocks this blade about screw 39 clockwise in Fig. 1, elevating the opposite or cutting end of movable blade 13. This movement raises pivot 17 and through it the gripping jaw 15, whereupon the latter rocks about a shifting fulcrum at and about the point 31 on gripping jaw 15 which makes initial contact with the upper margin of the recess within spur 29 of the still stationary holding blade 21. This causes the lefthand end of gripping jaw 15 to rise faster than the cutting edge 37 of the moving cutting blade 13, until the entire length of gripping jaw 15 lies against the opposing conformbly shaped (herein straight and transversely fiat) lower edge 43 of holding blade 21 as shown in Fig. 5, thus gripping the weft end which has entered the opening between the several blades as these parts entered the slot in the shuttle.

Under the continuing movement of movable cutting blade 13 upwardly, following this closing of jaw 15 into gripping relation with jaw 43 on holding blade 21, the jaw 15 by its upward pressure rotates holding blade 21 about screw 39 with flexing of spring 27, as shown in Fig. 6, thus maintaining and intensifying the gripping action of the jaws 15 and 43 as well as raising the weft at the precise rate of travel, and slightly above the edge 37, of the rising cutting blade 13. During this upward movement, the weft is cut betwen the fixed cutting blade 12 and the adjacent edge of part 37 of movable cutting blade 13.

The parts are held in this relation, with the jaws 15 and 43 clamped on the weft under the full pressure of spring 27, by the roll 59 on pin 61, which has passed beyond the cam path 63 and onto the full-diameter portion of guide 9 as the carrier 1 is slid forward to its idle or waltmg position. There it remains with the weft securely gripped between jaws 15 and 43 across the full Width of such fiat and parallel jaws until the next bobbin change requires the services of the weft holder and parter. Then when actuator 81 pushes the carrier 1. rearward, relative downward movement of cutting blade 13 by cam 63 causes spur 29 to lower the rear end of jaw 15 to or below the level of part 37 of blade 13, putting the parts again in the relation of Fig. 4, releasing the weft end in preparation to grip and part the next one.

12 against'the moving blade is mounted on screw 39 and pin 41 between the fixed blade -12 and the carrier, and has the usual perpendicular end serving as a weft guide or stop. The usual bent type second presser spring used to press the holding blade against the moving out ting blade is omitted because the former scissor-type wedging grip of the holding blade on the weft which required it is no longer used. Instead, a simple flat metal cover plate 47 is confined beneath the head of screw 39 and holds the blades pressed against each other and the under jaw 15 and its pivot in place, and also keeps lint out of the spring 27 and the bearings. The stiffness of holding blade 21 when made thicker as now, and especially when made of metal, added to the inherent stiff ness of the moving blade 13, reduces or'does away with the need for the second presser spring.

In certain instances, a facing of frictional material such as neoprene, plastic, or leather may be adhesively' applied to the gripping surfaces of one or both jaws 15,

Stud 85 fixed on the carrier 1 extends through the eye in the end of actuator 81 to place the weft parter in its rearward position just before weft replenishment is to be effected. l I v While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but

What I do claim is:

1. A weft holder and parter for looms having a lay, comprising in combination a carrier, means mounting the carrier for movement toward and from the lay, a cutting blade operatively fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade movable relatively to the carrier and fixed blade, at weftgripping jaw in engagement with one of such blades, and a holding blade on which the jaw is fulcrumed and against which the weft is gripped by the jaw.

2. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier movably mounted on the loom, a cutting blade fixed'on the carrier, a cutting blade pivoted on the carrier, a holding blade pivoted on the carrier, means moving the pivoted cutting blade, and means in engagement with the pivoted cutting blade and fulcrumed on the holding blade and adapted to grip and hold the weft between the holdingblade and itself.

3. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier movably mounted on the loom, a cutting blade fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade pivoted on the carrier, a holding blade pivoted on the carrier, means moving the pivoted cutting blade, and a jaw pivoted on the cutting blade apart from the blades pivot and disposed in the plane of the holding blade and rocked about its pivot on the cutting blade by engagement with the holding blade.

4. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier, a cutting blade fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade and a holding blade pivotally mounted on the carrier, means moving the cutting blade about its pivot, means yieldingly holding the holding blade from movement about its pivot, and a jaw independently pivoted on the pivoted cutting blade and fulcrumed on the edge of the holding blade to clamp the weft thereagainst and to move the holding blade at the same rate of advance as that of the cutting blade while the latter cuts the weft.

5. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier, a cutting blade fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade and a holding blade both pivotally mounted on the carrier, means moving the cutting blade about its pivot, means yieldingly holding the holding blade from movement about its pivot, and a jaw fulcrumed on the holding blade and moved into clamping relation with the The usual spring blade 45 which presses the fixed blade 3; latter by the cutting blade.

6. A weft holder and patter for looms having in combination a carrier movably mounted on the loom, a cutting blade fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade pivoted on the carrier, a holding blade pivoted on the carrier, means moving the pivoted cutting blade, and means pivoted on the pivoted cutting blade apart from the blades pivot and fulcrumed on the holding blade and gripping the weft against the holding blade.

7. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier, a cutting blade fixed 0n the carrier, a cutting blade movable on the carrier, a holding blade mounted on the carrier, means moving the cutting blade about its pivot, a jaw having a portion fulcrumed in a recess in the edge of the holding blade to move in the plane of the holding blade, and spring means urging the holding blade and jaw into closed gripping relation, the pivoted cutting blade holding the jaw open until such blade is moved to cut the weft and permitting closing of the jaw against such edge when so moved.

8. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier, a cutting blade fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade pivoted on the carrier, means for actuating the pivoted cutting blade, a holding blade on the carrier, a member fulcrumed on the edge of the holding blade, and a spring acting to eliect relative movement of the holding blade and such member to bring this member into conforming weft-gripping engagement with such edge, the member having a portion engaged by the pivoted cutting blade and controlling the movement of such mem- 6 her into and out of weft-gripping engagement with the edge of the holding blade.

9. The combination according to claim 8 in which a projection of the said member extends into a recess in the pivoted cutting blade.

10. A weft holder and parter for looms having in combination a carrier, a guide therefor, cam means in fixed relation to the guide, a cutting blade fixed on the carrier, a cutting blade pivoted on the carrier and positively actuated by the cam both toward and from the fixed blade, and means holding the weft after it has been cut by the blades.

11. In a weft holder and parter for looms, in combination, relatively moving cutting and holding blades, a jaw having one of its ends fulcrumed in a recess in the edge of one blade and moving in the plane of such blade and having a part thereon extending into the plane of a relatively moving blade, the jaw being brought into weftgripping contact with the edge of the blade having the recess by reason of the mutual engagement of the said part and the said relatively moving blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,219 Stafford Dec. 8, 1925 2,173,788 McAdams Sept. 19, 1939 2,329,999 Miller Sept. 21, 1943 2,711,193 Consoletti June 21, 1955 2,720,225 Moon Oct. 11, 1955 

